Cane-harvester.



GANE APPLICATXON FILED MAY 1L '1909. WML l -v V M rammed A10?, 2 i-m 5 SHBETSASHEET S,

@wma- A GERDES GANE HARVESTER. K

11H11: ATloN ULL mm 11 1303 l To all'wwlm it may concerne UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A'AUGUST G Eannsgor GaE'rNA, LOUISIANA.

CANE-HARVESTER.

- .Specification of Letters latent.

'Patented Apr. l2, 1912.

' Appncann-mg' my 1 1, isos. serialm. 495,289.

Be "t known 'that'I, Arie-'lier Genuss, a subject .of theGerman Empire, andv4 resi- .dent of Gretna, Jefferson parish, Louisiana,

have invented-.certain new' andiuseful I m-- provements in Cane-Harvesters, ofwhich the `:following isa s ecication.

This invention re ates to4 harvesters for f cane, corn and broom corn.

. The object .of this' invention'gis--to construct a. machine which will gatherup the 'I blown down stalks, cutfthem, strip them of all leaves, cut off the tops,` and then drop the .strip ed stalks onto a conveyer wherethey may The machine moved either by animal powenor by an engine.' lThe frameworkV 1s constructed of structural 4steeland mount' edvon wheels. On. the front of'themachine are mounted two pairs o f gathering screws which' gather the blown ofw'n stalks and,`

move them into the biteiof-a number-of, screw conveyersat the same time the stalksV are cut by means f of a pair of disk imives: These screw conveyors are edged and in this means of a draw cut. While the stalks are distance below the tassell in engagement with the conveyors they are given an-upward movement; mechanlsmin `the form of l-roughened or corrugated bars engage the stalks in their passage through the conveyors-and impart'to them a rotative' movement, whereby it is insured that, every part of the'stalk will come in' engagement with the knives. TAfter the stalks are cleaned they'are fedby a specia-lpair vof feeding rolls to the top cutter. These feed-4 ing rolls are of suche constructionand are so located with reference tothe knives that the stalk is cut always at a predetermined After the tops have been cut off the bodies of the stalks are discharged upon an elevator which may discharge them upon the ground or load them on. a wagon. The tops are discarded by means of dofferwheels located above the rolls.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is n side ele` vation ofthe harvester; Fi'. 2 is la plan view.; Fig.'3'is a front elevation; Fig. 4 is a detail ofthe stalkrevolving bar in side ele' vation; Fig. 5 is a detail front elevation 'of lthe same; Fig. 6 is a. detail plan view lof the same; Fig. 7 is a detail' front elevation of the stalk cutting knives -and the plat-form or.

l'If drawn by anim I bridge; Fig. 8 isl a detail' view .showing-the adj usting means for .the cutting knives, platform or `bridge and the gathering screws; and Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the feeding screws, the top cutting knives and the The `frame of the machine is preferably formed of structural-steel and supported 0n four wheels 15. The front wheels, as clearly shown in Fig-3, are mounted up n bearin s attached to sleeves 16, which are pivotaly mounted on pivot pins 17 mounted in bear-` ings 18, l9, rigidl connected to the frame lo f themachine. igidly connected to the sleeves 16ste arms 20. A band or chain 21 passes around a number of loose pulleys 22 and pulley 22' on a shaft 23 mounted in .bearingsin the frame. This shaft has con-. nected t'o `ita spur gear 24 withv which. `meshes a pinion 25 having connectedto it a handle 26. The handle 26 andthe coperating parts Vconstitute the steering mecha- 'nism for the machine.

This' ,machine may be drawn either by animal power or propelled by an engine.

power the tongue is attached on'the left side off) the machine at thepoint A. If propelled by an engine, this. engine. Iis mounted in the space 27.

28, 29 fofm spaces for tanks4 and tool boxes. lf

Across the fr me of the machine extends the main haft t0, having mounted upon it a pinion i, which meshes with nn internal gear 3 2 o the rear wheel rim. Rear wheels '15, 15 are loosely mounted on their axles in the usual way. The shaft 30 may be driven fcithcr by internal teeth in one of the rear Wheel rims or this shaft may extend clear across, forming an extension 33 which may be provided with another pinionl meshing with internal gear teeth in the right-hand rear wheel rim.- Int-his case however a suitable differential gearing mus't'be prowheel 45 connected to a counter shaft 46.

Afchain wheel` 47, mounted uponthe shaft 46, transmits, by means ofa chain, power to a stubl 'shaft having mounted upon ity a 4f bevel gear 48, :is-shown in Figs.' 1 and 2. This bevel ,gear 48 meshes with-a inion 49' on a shaft' 50,- extendjng longitu inally of the machine frame. A chainr wheel 51 0u-- the shaft 46 transmits ower to a` chainwheel 52 on a shaft 53. lt will therefore be seen that by means of the gears and chain wheels the power is transmitted `from the.

main shaft to the .different counter shafts, each of which, as will yb'e seen later, transmits ,the -power to its. separate pieces of mechanism. y

A pair of gatherin screws 55, 56 are mounted upon their siafts 57, 58, which shafts rotate in bearings in the frame ofthe machine. Upon these shafts are mounted 'a pair of chain wheels which .connect by chains to the chain wheels 38 'and'42, whereby the gathering screws are rotated in opposite directions, as indica-ted by thearrows in Fig. 3. A second pair of gathering screws 59, 60, are mounted upon a pairof shafts .61, 62 so as to'also rotate. `These shafts 61, 62 extend longitudinally of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1, and are rotated in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 3 by means f chain wheels 39.43 and chains. A pair of disk knives 63, 64 are mounted in bearings in the position shown in Fig. 3 and cut 'the stalks fed tothem by the gathering screws 55, 56, 59 and'60. 4 Fi 8 shows in detail the mounting' ofthe disk ives. Since the Vmounting of the two knives is. similar only onemounting will be described., Referring toFig. 8, 65 designates a knife shaft to the-lower end of'which is secured the knife 64.4 This shaft extends through bearings 66, .67, bolted to the frame] of the machine; A bevel gear 68 is splined' to the shaft 65. This 'bevel' ear has @hol-'- low yhub 69 provided with ce lars 70 an'cl71 which position the bevel gears 68 and prevent longitudinal movementthereof; bearing 67 .is ofthe split tyvpe so 'as t ipermit the insertion of the hub 69. Althird bearing 72 is bolted to the frameof th ,man chine, and through this' bearing extends a shaft 73 having a grooved portion forming a collar 74. The shaft 65 has-its upper end grooved, forming a similar collar 7 5.!Y-' Ihe se collars coperate withla split'sleeveIG. A set screw 77, in the bearing 72, permits the. shaft 73 to be adjusted vertically and lockedin adjusted position. It will be noted; that the -construction of the collars 74, 7 5:- and the split sleeve 76 allows free rotative {movement of the shaft. 65 and permits -vrtical adjustment of the same. Uponthe lower end of the shaft is mounted a collar 78 provided with a lug 79, which lug iSBPr see igs.

By means of the construction shown and described, by a single adjustment of the shaft is of such construction that the lower end vof the brid e 83 'always rests lightly-upon ed bearing lugs 85' formed upon t e lugs 80.

73 one of the knives and one of'the gather the knives, eing however su ported 'by the lugs 85.* In the'construction s own it is necessaryf to first aljustthe knife and the. gath-- ering screw on one sideof the machine. and j thereafter adjust the parts on the other side,` but it will be understood that the invention 1s not limtedto this separate adjustment.

The knives 63 and (S4-are otated by meansof`bevel 'gea-rs- 86,- 86 drivenl by means of' chains 87, 87 and' chainwheels 88,88 11i-the staffe 46..

Upon the front of the machine are mounted pairs of gathering bars 90, 90, 91, 91, connected by strips 92', 92. An` additional .pair` of guide bars 93, 93 may be mountedat the ai', a fes', 95. ad 98, 98 designate combined upper end of the machine to guide the stalks -f into engagement with the conveyors and '1M-J conveyer andMStripper mechanism in' the form of screws or helices 99. ,1' As shown the. other, the pairs intermeshing, as shown stalks. These helicesonsc'rews-are, provded A1l vthese screws are mounted in pairs one above with sharp cutting edges, either plain, as..4

shown in Figs. 1, l2-'an d`3, o r notched in tbe form of saw-teeth, as shown in Fig.. 5. These screws rotate1 in opposite 'directions and as'shown'by the arrows in Fig. 3, downwardlytoward the bottom of the stalk. A

lchainwheel 100 uponshaft 50 transmits power` to a chain wheel 101 on a shaft 102 supporting one of the screws.I The power is transmitted tothe other screws by means of a train of gearing 103, as shown inFig.' 1. A fth pair of screws 'or helices 104l are mounted abovethe other screws' upon .shafts 105. A chain wheel 106 upon one of these shafts connects lby a chainV to the second chain wheel 107 upon the. shaft 50. By vmeans of spur gears 108 on the shafts 105, 105, and the chain Wheel 107, the screws 104-are rotated in opposite directions.Y as

5 shown by the arrows in Fig. 3. lIn this case however the direction of rotation is upwardly or toward the top of the stalk. 4The screws 104'need not be provided with cutting edges as their function is merely to support a stalk and not to strip it.

The inclined bridge 83 has an :extension -83 which extends to and feeds the stalks that the length of the screwportion of thenpon a steep conveyer 109 passing over rolls 110, 111. The roll 111 is mounted upon a i. 15 shaft to whichis connected a spur gear 112,

Ameshing with a spur gear 113 on the shaft 46, whereby during the operation of the machine the yelevator moves the stalks toward the rear of the machine' It will be noted screws95 and 96 is diminished.

Referringlgo Figs. 1, 2 and 9, a pair of feeding'sc Aslate 114 forming stalk receiving recesses llrkllfre mounted upon sleeves 116,

2.5, through which sleeves extend the shafts 105.

Uponfthese sleeves are rigidly mounted a pair of i-ntermeshing spur'gears 117, and upon one of thesleeves is mounted a chain 'wheel 118 connected'by means of a chain t0 a chain wheel-119 upon the shaft 50. By

Y means of this independent connection the feeding Screws 114 may bedriven atav .greater or' at a less speed than the screws f 104. A pair of vertically extending shafts 95120 have mounted at their lower ends a pair of bevel gears 121 which mesh with bevel gears upon t-he shaft 53. Upon the upper ends of the shafts-120 are mounted a pair 'of disk knives 122... A pair of chain wheels ,40 123, mounted above the disks 122, are conneetedyby chains to a pair of chain wheels upon shafts 125. These shafts support a pair pf doler wheels 121. In the construct-ion `,l1o\vn in Fig, 9 only one dotler wheel is used. A conveyer 1,26 passes over a pair '59 A lon "din'ally extending har-132 is provided-with a pair of slides or elongated pins 133.whicl1' slide in the inclined slots 131.

l The b ai 132 has riveted or otherwise secured torit a plate 134 provided with a number of "'lengt-h of the bar.

Lcorrugations 135 extending along the entire These corrugations n'i'ay he'. formed in various ways. They may he I.formed by punching out Vportions of' the plate or strip 134,- oi-by securing sharp pins 5- dnfeeny incitera-.132, 4or 'th' bar 132,1-

lleterrin g to the plate 134, may be merely roughened, the function of this roughened portion'being to revolve the stalk in its passage through the machine. The bar 132 is preferably pro vided with a flaring guide 136 for the purpose of bringing the stalk inv engagement. with the roughened projections 135.

Referring tov Figs. 3 and 5, it willv be noted that the bars 132, which are two in number in the construct-ion shown, are positioned between two pairsv of screws. The weight of the bar normally retains them in the lowest position with the lugs 133 in the lower ends of slots 131.-4 .position the bars 132 will extend beyond the renter line of the machine,'this being the line which is equidistant from the centers ot the screws.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The machine is propelled or drawn along a row of cane or corn. The gathering hars 9() and 91 will pick up the stalks In this lowest which have been blown down by the wind or rain and bring them into the bite of the gathering screws 55, 56, 5 9 and 60. These gathering screws are revolved at such a speed that the pitch speed is equal to the speed of the machine over the ground, the pitch speed being the distance between two symmetrical points onl two successive flights. z'. c. the pitch, multiplied by the numberof revolutions of the screw in a u nit of time.

'It will therefore be seen that after a stalk is once in engagement with the screw it will be righted and held in vert-ical position, the lower pair of screws rst righting the stalk and the upper pair of screws completing the righting operation. By the united operation of the gathering bars and the gathering screws the stalks are gradually brought closer to the center line of the machine. since it will befnoted that the upper pair of gathering screws is located nearer the center line` than` the Vlower pair, thereby corresponding withthe flare of the gathering hars` The gathering screws and gathering bars feed the stalks to the cylindrical knives 63, 64, which cut oil' the stalk at a distance above the ground determined by the djusting mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 8. At the same time that the stalks are in enf gagement with the cutting knives the up er portions thereof, by means of the gatherlng bars 91 and,l the additional-guides 93, arev guided onto the bite of the revolving Screws 99 which engage .the stalks which are now righted and in vertical position; hold them in vertical position, and gradually `move them through the machine. As the stalks are moved through the machine the sharp cutting edges of the screws strip the stalks of their leaves by a draw cut, After the stalks leave the knivcs'l63 and 64 they are engaged by the inclined platform or bridge S3. Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, it will 'be -moved longitudinally and upward-l to the incline of the platform orbri 'ge 83.

noted'thatv this platform` or bridge' 83 l upon the surface of the knives and is pro-y vided with a troiigh or V-sha ed central` portion B, which tends to holdt e stalks in central position. The stalks moved on bythe conveyer and stripping 4screws are due In this manner by giving thel stalks an upward movement while' engage'di' by the strippers it is insur gitudinal of the stalk shall be engaged by the stripping knives. 'Ihe inclineof the.

plat-form 83 is of course suitably. lproportioned so' that a vertical movement of sutii` cient amount is given to insure such operation. In theirv passage' through the machine the stalks are also engaged by the roughencd bars 132. In this way .the'stalks are given a rotative movement around their' gaged by the retaining screws 104. It willbe v noted that 'these screws rotate upwardly toward theltop of the stalk and'therefore'ahy top cming in engagement will be quickly move upwardly and thereafter retained in lposition by the screws which form a rest or stop the stalk by the top ortassel, all downward movement and urther'upward movement is prevented. Since the function of these screws is merely to retain orsupport the stalk the)1 need not be`provided with cutting edges, and, on the other hand, they may be in lthe form of plain rolls.

The inclined platform or bridge S3 will move the long stalks into engagement with the retainingl screws or rolls 104 but in or- Ader that the short stalks may also be moved A intoV engagement with these rolls the elevatoi- 109 is provided. The section 83 of the bridge or platform discharges onto this elevator -109 which moves the stalks upwardly, the speed of the elevator being such that the longitudinal component is the 'same as the feed of the screws. In this way, the shorter stalks areelcvated so that they ,are engaged by the retainers 104 and .the stalks are supported by thevhead or tassel in the usual way. 'I he stripping screws and the retaining screwsor rolls 104 move all the stalks rearwardly into the bites the feeding screws 114, 'which'rotate Same.

Jafter being 'engaged' by retaining screws, In this way af ed that every4 part'1on.

that the head' shall always be a,

thereby prevent clogging,

for the stalk, and since they engage directions as the retaining screws enrolls 104. The stalks will ow enter the recesses 115 in the feeding rolls and will be moved in enga ement withv lthe disk' ,kn'ves- 122.- The f in rolls 114 are preferab ylrun at such a spee that the move ent of the stalk, ein, towardy the knives is faster lthan the movement which is imparted to the stalk by the strip ing and tdila stalk is fed intoengagement with the r s 114 it is quickly'moved'toward the knives 122 and thus allclogging is avoided. .Sino f the rolls 114 move'upwardly and toward t-.ie top or tassel the stalk is supported by the tassel andA 'therefore the knives 122 cut thefstalk. at a predetermined and uniform distance below the top, which distance is independent of the length of the stalk. l

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted thatthe elevator 109 terminates at a point in front of the-last thread or helix on the screws 97 and 98. In. this 'way e stalks will leavethe elevator before. they venter the recesses inthe feeding rolls 114, and are al'- lowed to dropdown land besupiiorted by their heads -ortassels only and' thus insure 'predeter- .122. I Almined distance above the `knives vthough therolls 114V are preferably driven 'by a separate train-'oi gearing in order that be drivenat a higher speed and 'these rolls may be- 'rigidly 4connected to the shafts 10d and thus the separate train of gearing 11T; 118, 119 .may be dispensed with.

After the tops have been cut od'jthe stalks are discharged upon the elevator '126 which may load them upon a wagon or `discharge them on the ground while the tops are discarded by means of the doer wheels 124. In Vthe construction shown in Eig. 9 the doifer wheels throw the tops on that part-vof the field which has been cleaned ,of the stalks. s.

By the adjusting means disclosed Fig. 8 the distance of the knives, the ig'athermg; screws, and the inclined bridge 83 above the they may ground may bei-adjusted.

Although', this- 'ma'chine is particularly adapted to cut, strip and top sugar can'efit:

will used for cutting and stripping corn 'to prei? pllfv it u It is thereforeto be understood'that I do not. intend to vlimit the use ofthis machine to aparticular kind of stalk, nor is ythis invention to tion shown and described.

that I claim is:

1. Inv a harvester, in combination a gathering screw, a second shorter gathering screw mounted above the first, a support for said' screws whereby they may be moved bodily over the ground, and means for `rotating be obvious that the machine can be for the cellulose and paper act/ories.

be limited to the specific oonstrucj said screivs at a pitch vspeed equal to their bodily movement.

2. In a harvester, in combination, a frame or support, a pair of gathering screws mounted on said support, one on each side oi its median line, a second pair of screws shorter than the first pair mounted above said iii-st pair, one on each sideof the median line, but nearer to said line', and means for rotating said screws ata pitch speed equal to their bodily movement.

3. In a hanvester, the combination With a frame, of gathering means on the front end thereof including a gathering screw, a hinged shaft for rotating said screw, and means for vertically adjusting said screw on said frame. f

4. In a harvester, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of pairs of substan tially horizontally arranged coperating.

gathering screws on said frame and projecting and overhanging from the forward end thereof, one pair above the other, and means for rotating said screws.

5. In a harvester, the combination with a frame, of a pluralityT of pairs of substan' tially horizontally arranged gathering screws onsaid frame and project-ing and overhanging from the forward end thereof, one pair above the other, means for rotating said screivs, and means for vertically adjusting the lower pair of screws. v

6. In a harvester, the combination with a frame, of a pair lof substantially horizon- .ing said Vscrews at a pitch speed tally arranged gathering screws 'on said framesand projecting and overhanging from theforward end thereof, means for rotating said solews, and means for vertically adjusting sai screws in unison.

7. In a harvester, in combination a frame or supi ort, astalk cutting knife, a pair of inwar ly converging 'gathering bars for guiding the stalk to the knife, a pair of overhanging gatherin screws coperating with the bars for fee in the stalks along said ba'rs to the knife, an means for rotatth'eirbodily movement. I

8. In ii harvester, in combination and arranged in series gathering means, a stalk cutter, stripping means' receiving the stalks from gathering means and cutter, a top cutter, and means -fo'r feeding the stalks through the machine in an upright position to be o erated upon by the stripping means, and t en'the top cutter.

9. In a harvester, in combination, and 'arranged in series gathering means, a' stalk cutter,stripping means receiving the stalks from gathering means and cutter, atop cutter, means for feeding the stalks through the machine in an upright position to be operated upon by the`stripp1ng means, and

then

t theftop fcutter, 'and 'a 'conveyer receiv-n cutter.

equal to then the top cutter, and a do er'ivheel for discarding the tops. A

1l. `In a harvester, in combination, a stalkcutter, combined rotary stripping and feed- -ing mechanism,` and gathering means for guiding the stalks in an upright position into the bite of the cutter mechanism.

l2. 'In a harvester, in combination, a stalk cutter, combined rotary stripping and feeding mechanism, gatherin means for guiding the stalks in an.upright-position ii'it'o the bites ofthe cutter mechanism, andl stalk discharging mechanism receiving the stalks from ping mechanism. A

. 13. In a harvester, in combination, a'stalk cutter, rotary stripping mechanism, gathering means for right position into the b ite'of the cutter `and the stripping mechanism, and topp""" mechanism receiving the stalks from stripping mechanism. .l

14. In a harvester, in combination, avstalk and. stripping v and the stripping] said stripl guiding the stalks in an up cuttcr, rotary stripping mechanism', gathering means -for guiding the stalks in an upright position into the bite of the cutter and the stripping mechanism topping mechanism receiving the stalks from the sai d and stalk 'discharging stripping mechanism,

mechanism receiving the stalks from Sai 'stripping 'and topping mechanisms.

l5. In a harvester, in combination, atalk cutter, combined rotary stripping iid deding mechanism, and gatherin bars""f1".

guiding the stalks in an u rig t-'position 'I into the biteof the cutter an feeding mechanism.

16. In a harvester, in combinatipln-"a' cutter, stripping and feeding inechaliis including a vpair gf spaced rottingdiie cal means for 4convefing the .stalks in an.

upright position, an gathering vmea-ns'ifo'r stripping' find 'ilo guiding the stalks directly into the bite'of including a' pai-r of spaced rotatingghelical 'into the bite of said cutter and'sai' helical members, said cutter operating on the'stalks'l -.\vhen they are in: *theIA bitefoff'the-- 'helical members., f.

18. In. afhaija'cstenin combination.a'"stalk" cuttercombiiied rotary stripping` andgfeed-gfl Gah Al valnism including 1 r, in-,combintionaa stalki- 1 fof vmembers, and gathering mechanisi'lrr'ffor.4

guiding the stalks man uprightositi'en 4e stalks in an upright osition into the ite of suidstripping an feeding mechafnism. f 19. In a' harvester, in combination, a stalk 5 cutter, stripping and feeding mechanism ingluding meansfor rotating the' stalks, and gathering meansforl `guiding the stalks in an upright-'position into the bite of said cutter and stripping and feeding mecha- .nisms, said cutter operating on the stalks i whenthey are in the bitecf1 the 'stripping "1f-'and feedin mechanism.

. 20.- AIn ay arves'ter, in combination, a stalk A Y cutter, stripping and feeding `mechanism -fincluding'nieans 'for lrotating the stalks, 'Sa'idrtating mechani'smincluding ya bar -'yieldingly movable `transversely of the nialchine, gathering means-'for gui ding v the ystelkegin a, substantially upright#position .20 into "the flute' o'f-,said cutter Aand stripping and f eedi mechanism and a-guide member. on-sa 'bar for guiding'the stalks. 21.,.In` cutter, comb ned rotary 4strippingand feedss'ng mechanism including means for rotating the stalks,- said rotating means comprising albaglieldingly4 movable transverselyf the mac e, gathering-Y bars, for guiding the stalks' an upright position into the bite of saidcutter' and said, strilping and feeding mechanism, and agguide ar A011 s'aid vyield.-

l barter-'guiding the stalks. v l"22. In d harvester, in combination, a. stalkV butter, stripping and feeding mechanism including'. means 'fdl'. rotatin thejst-alks, said rotating mechanism inc uding a bar f yieldinglymova'bletransversely of the machine, 'gatherin means for guiding the stalks intqthe biteof said cutter and strip-j 40v 'ping andl feeding mechanism, said gathering means includinggathering bars vand gatheringscrews,and a guidebar on said'yielding bar for guiding the stalks. Y

' 23. Ina harvester, in combination, a stalk 5.5, cutter, coinbined'rotai stripping 4and feeding vmechanism J inclu ing an inclined V- sha d l'cated rearwardly of Y sai 'cui'.ter n' -"recei'vin' the' ends'of lthe substantiall? upright sta ks'idirectlv therefrom, andt'gothering' means Ifor guiding the f-'stalks intthe bite lofthe cutter and striplping mechanism;

' 25. In @hart/ester,incombinaticn, a stalk cutter, combinedrotary strlppin .and feedgrves'ter, in combination, a stalk- :stal

the ends .of the support located rearwardly of said cutter and receiving the ends of the upright stalks directly therefrom, gathering means for guiding thc stalks into' the bite of said cutter and stripping and feeding mechanism and means for adjusting the position of said cutter andlsup ort.

26. In a har,ester, in combination, a stalk cutter, a carrier therefor, stripping and feeding mechanism including an inclined stalk support extending rearwardly from said cutter, said support being hinged at the rear end and resting at the front end on said critter carrier whereby it receives the ends of the upright stalks directly -from the cutter,` and athering means forguiding the stalks into t e bite of said cutter and strip- '.Inv a harvester, in combination, a stalk cutter, stripping and feeding mechanism including spaced rotating helical members extendingjlongitudinally of the' machine and on opposite sidesv of a median line, an in-, clined V-shaped stalk support extending ping and feeding mechanism. 2

'rearwardly from said cutter directly below the space between said 4helical members and ada ted to receive the ends of the upright lis directly from the cutter, said stripping and feeding means adapted to convey the stalks rearwardly through the machine and 'along said support, and ,gathering nieans for guiding the stalks into the cutter and strippingv and feeding mechanism 28. In a harvester, 'in combination with a support, of a knife, a platform located rearwardly-of said knife, a gathering' screw 1o- 'cated forwardly'of said knife and all sustained by'said support, and means whereby all of said parts may be adjusted vertically.

v 29.7In a harvester,A stripping means, an

inclined platform located below and adapted to support the 4stalks during the strip ing operation, a knife at the lower end o the platform, a gathering screw for, feeding the stalks to the knife and platform, and an adj ustable support for the platform, knife, and the gathering screw.

30. In a harvester, the combination with a main frame, of a stalk cutter thereon, a support in which said stalk cutter is journaled,

- a gathering screw journaled in said support,

,and means forvertically adjusting said supporton 'said frame.

31. In a harvester, the combination with a main frame, of a plurality of stalk cutters thereon, supports -in which said cutters are journaled, a pair of gathering screws journaled insa-id supports, and meansfor ad- 'justmg said supports vertically on said frame.

32. .In a harvester, thecombination with a main frame, of a stalk cutterthereon, a support in ,which said stalk cutter is'journaled, a bridge hinged at one end on. said main 65 ing-.mechanismlincludlng an stalkznframe and resting at other .end o; d 130 suppor, a gabherng screw journaled in said Suppor, and means for vertically adjusting said support on Suid frame.

33. n a harvester, the Combination with a malin frame, of a pa? of Stalk Cutters thereon, supports in which said stalk cutters are journal-sch a bridge hinged at one end to said frame and mstng at its other end 011 said support, a pair of gathering screws jour- In testimony whereof I ax my signa/ture in presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUST GERDES,

Witnesses:

R. H. BROWNE, '.IHos. DLANIGAN. 

